[Archaeological Institute of America](https://www.archaeological.org)

April 2026 (Nomination deadline)

No monetary award; recognition honor presented at AIA Annual Meeting.

Recognizes individuals or organizations for exceptional contributions to public understanding and preservation of archaeology.

--- ## Description The Outstanding Public Service Award from the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) honors individuals, organizations, institutions, or corporations whose efforts have significantly advanced public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of archaeology and the preservation of the archaeological record. The award celebrates a wide range of impactful activities, including public education, advocacy, outreach, and collaborative projects that foster heritage justice and responsible stewardship. --- ## Due Dates - Nomination deadline (anticipated): April 2026 - Reviewing committee recommends winner to Governing Board: October 2026 - AIA staff notify nominators of status: November 2026 - Winner celebrated at Awards Ceremony during Annual Meeting: January 2027 *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - This is an honorary award; no monetary prize is associated. - Recipients are recognized at the AIA Annual Meeting and highlighted on the AIA website. --- ## Eligibility - Open to individuals, organizations, institutions, or corporations. - Nominees do not need to be members of the AIA. - The award may not be presented every year; selection is at the discretion of the reviewing committee. --- ## Application Process - Nominations may be submitted by any AIA member or AIA committee. - Submissions must include a detailed statement of the candidate’s contributions suitable for use in a citation. - All nomination materials must be received by AIA Headquarters by the nomination deadline for consideration in the following Annual Meeting cycle. - Use the [AIA Awards Citation Form](https://www.archaeological.org/programs/professionals/grants-awards/aia-awards-citation-form/) to submit nominations. - The AIA Cultural Heritage Committee reviews nominations and makes a recommendation to the Governing Board. - Official notifications are sent to nominators in November, and the recipient is honored at the Annual Meeting in January. --- ## Additional Information - The award recognizes a broad range of public service, including advocacy, legal action, emergency response, education, and international collaboration in archaeology. - Past recipients include federal agencies, legal teams, heritage organizations, journalists, and individual scholars. - See the [list of past recipients and their citations](https://www.archaeological.org/grant/outstanding-public-service-award/) for examples of qualifying achievements. --- ## External Links - [Outstanding Public Service Award Program Page](https://www.archaeological.org/grant/outstanding-public-service-award/) - [AIA Grants & Awards Overview](https://www.archaeological.org/programs/professionals/grants-awards/) - [AIA Awards Citation Form (Nomination Submission)](https://www.archaeological.org/programs/professionals/grants-awards/aia-awards-citation-form/) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Details | |------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | General Inquiries | [awards@archaeological.org](mailto:awards@archaeological.org) | | AIA Headquarters | 2000 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 415, Auburndale, MA 02466 USA | | Phone | 857-305-9350 | | Online Contact Form | [AIA Contact Page](https://www.archaeological.org/contact/) |

Outstanding Public Service Award - Archaeological Institute of America

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